was tough and had to say he was tough and after his hasty tweet a few days ago when he said, hang on, russians, we're coming, he had to take some action and this will probably satisfy. steve, a re and this will probably satisfy. steve, are some symbolic acts enough to deter the assad regime from these sorts of chemical weapons attacks... alleged chemical weapons attacks in future? no, they're not. the important thing to remember is even if he doesn't use chemical weapons he is still engaged in a terrifically brutal campaign against his own population. the use of chemical weapons isjust his own population. the use of chemical weapons is just a tiny part of that of what goes on everyday in syria. what happens everyday far outstrips the chemical weapons use on his population. i don't think this will be deterred, this will be seen symbolically all—round. this will be deterred, this will be seen symbolically all-round. in a sense, at least for those who still support the syrian regime, they paint him as the victim, being attacked by the powerful west? yes, in some sense it can, but from a western perspective it doesn't

look like that. this is such a limited attack. if it escalates it will be very different. but right now, he used chemical weapons against his people, which is known by everybody, including putin and decide themselves, although they would deny it. —— and assad. these countries have interests in syria. france special long—term interests. the uk has interests, and was also the subject of a small—scale chemical weapons attack itself in salisbury, on the part of russia, just a couple of weeks ago. so from the western standpoint he doesn't look like a victim. just looking at the reuters news agency, which has been having a look at the french presidential twitter feed, showing video of french warplanes taking off for syria for this intervention. why are the united states, france and the uk, the west, in a sense, so cleaved from russia in syria? why

are they so far are part? —— far apart. well, the united states, britain and france, traditionally, they have a regime in syria which was not literally genocidal, and they value that. bashar al—assad's regime has been under pressure from his own population since the arab revolt in 2011. russia swoop in to help save along with the iranians. that really puts russia and iran and the syrian regime of assad on one side. typically that is going to be saudi arabia and united states and its allies on the other side. so relations between the us and russia could hardly be worse, of course. trump is part of the problem. he has no credibility as an interlocutor with the russians, as somebody who could sit down at the table and have a deal with them, because so many people in america right now see him as being in bed with putin. we also

have to bear in mind the political situation he faces at home right 110w. situation he faces at home right now. he needs a distraction. the last few days has been a disaster for him, politically. his right—hand henchman, michael cohen, it is now clear he is under communication —— under investigation. his private communications, including those with trump, have been seized. trump is looking at possible impeachment. and so looking at possible impeachment. and so far he seems to have really remained loyal to vladimir putin. all along, that has really been the one thing he has stuck with, ever since the campaign. he hasn't criticised putin very much at all. 0r criticised putin very much at all. or the russians. he clearly feels beholden to them. you do say that, but he has been much harsher to the russians recently than he ever has been. there was the expulsion of the diplomats from washington, there is this are strikes, which in effect is in russia's backyard. —— these airstrikes. perhaps you are being

harsh on him. i am not at all, in fa ct. harsh on him. i am not at all, in fact. he has not really taken any actions which have done great damage to president assad's forces, and certainly not to russian forces. remember that this portion of diplomats was done under pressure from the uk, under congressional pressure. “— from the uk, under congressional pressure. —— expulsion. he said shortly before the diplomats were kicked out, he said to the russian government, maybe you can send them back on the maybe just send different diplomats back. he has that everything he can to sound a 55? the have, . that everything he can to sound a if? the haveto . g ‘ the of to ten‘s sanctions, to shield to ten‘s government and its oligarchs, 53331333331 33353 213 31531233 33331333331 333 '13 31531233 from the 233.533 states i frankly from the united states government and its row. —— three mac. after this week he has to do something that looks tough. and he is under investigation for collusion with the russians, and he has his national security adviser, john bolton, who wants to go to war in

syria. so he is in a very difficult predicament for an american president to be in. predicament for an american presi has to be in. predicament for an american presi has wire in: 3 7, 3 predicament for an american presi has wire in: shown 3 predicament for an american presi has wire in: shown any still, has not really shown any inclination to have a showdown with putin. i am curious about what happens in the middle east, because there was the alleged chemical weapons attack by the syrian government on its own people. then there was that our strike which we all wondered who had carried it out, at the beginning of the week. we suspected it was the israelis. the israelis are talking about an armed drone by iran, they are alleging, into their airspace. that is a conflict which, i think, correct me ifiam conflict which, i think, correct me if i am wrong, which people should be looking out for? this is an awful situation in syria. it was bad enough before. now that trump has said he wants to pull out, his advisers and probably precipitously, they are trying to talk him out of just pulling him out. the israelis wa nt to just pulling him out. the israelis want to make it clear they are still there. they wanted to show the

syrian regime and the world and indeed the trump administration that they are going to protect themselves, even in the absence of themselves, even in the absence of the united states. so they made the strike. for the israelis to be brought into this is a remarkable escalation as well. here we have an american president to managers at the same time, simon tignous lee, i hate to say this way, but to suck up to the leader of the government of a hostel foreign power. —— simultaneously, i hate to say this. this is a very interesting set of skills that president trump seems to have. the british and french governments, as well as secretary james mattis, at the defence department here, are cooler heads. 0ne department here, are cooler heads. one can only hope that they will prevail. thank you very much. now, we are getting a response from the russian ambassador to the art of states. he warns that such actions

will not be left without consequences. he says president trump insulting the russian president is unacceptable and inadmissible. president trump announced the airstrikes nearly two hours ago. let's listen to what he said. a short time ago i ordered the united states armed forces to launch position strikes on targets associated with the chemical weapons capabilities of syrian dictator bashar al—assad. a combined operation with the armed forces of france and the united kingdom, is now under way. we thank them both. tonight i want to speak with you about why we have taken this action. one year ago assad launched a savage chemical weapons attack against his own innocent people. the united states responded with 58

missile strikes that destroyed 20% of the syrian air force. last saturday the assad regime again deployed chemical weapons to slaughter innocent civilians, this time in the town of douma near the syrian capital of damascus. this massacre was a significant escalation in a pattern of chemical weapons use by that very terrible regime. the evil and the despicable attack left mothers and fathers, infants and children thrashing in pain and gasping for air. these are not the actions of a man, they are crimes of a monster instead. following the horrors of world war i, a century ago, civilised nations joined together to ban chemical warfare. chemical weapons are uniquely dangerous, not only because they inflict gruesome suffering, but because even small amounts can unleash widespread devastation. the purpose of our actions tonight

is to establish a strong deterrent against the production, spread and use of chemical weapons. establishing this deterrent is a vital national security interest of the united states, the combined american british and french response to these atrocities will integrate all instruments of our national power, military, economic and diplomatic. we are prepared to sustain this response until the syrian regime stops its use of prohibited chemical agents. i also have a message tonight for the two governments most responsible for supporting, equipping and financing the criminal

assad regime. to iran and to russia i ask, what kind of a nation wants to be associated with the mass murder of innocent men, women and children? the nations of the world can be judged by the friends they keep. no nation can succeed in the long run by promoting rogue states, brutal tyrants and murderous dictators. in 2013 president putin and his government promised the world that they would guarantee the elimination of syria's chemical weapons. assad's recent attack and today's response are the direct result

of russia's failure to keep that promise. russia must decide if it will continue down this dark path, or if it willjoin with civilised nations as a force for stability and peace. hopefully someday we will get along with russia, and maybe even iran, but maybe not. i will say this. the united states has a lot to offer. with the greatest and most powerful economy in the history of the world — in syria, the united states, with but a small force being used to eliminate what is left of isis, is doing what is necessary to protect the american people. over the last year nearly 100% of the territory once controlled by the so—called isis caliphate in syria and iraq has been liberated and eliminated. the united states has also rebuilt ourfriendships across the middle east.

we have asked our partners to take greater responsibility for securing their home region, including contributing large amounts of money for the resources, equipment and all of the anti—isis effort. increased engagement from ourfriends including saudi arabia, the united arab emirates, egypt and qatar and others, can ensure that iran does not profit from the eradication of isis. america does not seek an indefinite presence in syria. under no circumstances. as other nations step up their contributions, we look forward to the day when we can bring our warriors home. and great warriors they are.

looking around our very troubled world, americans have no illusions. we cannot purge the world of evil, or act everywhere there is tyranny. no amount of american blood or treasure can produce lasting peace and security in the middle east. it is a troubled place. we will try to make it better, but it is a troubled place. the united states will be a partner and a friend, but the fate of the region lies in the hands of its own people. in the last century we looked straight into the darkest places of the human soul, we saw the anguish that can be unleashed, and the evil that can take hold. by the end of world war i, more than1 million people had been killed or injured by chemical weapons. we never want to see that ghastly spectre return. so today the nations of britain, france and the united states of america have marshalled their righteous power against barbarism and brutality. tonight i ask all americans to say

a prayer for our noble warriors and our allies as they carry out their missions. we pray that god will bring comfort to those suffering in syria. we pray that god will guide the whole region toward a future of dignity and of peace. and we pray that god will continue to watch over and bless the united states of america. thank you and good night. president trump on authorising with

the uk and france airstrikes on syria following an alleged chemical weapons attack by the syrian government. welcome to bbc news, broadcasting to viewers in north america and around the globe. our top stories: president trump has announced that airstrikes have been launched against syria. the purpose of our actions tonight is to establish a strong deterrent against the production, spread and use of chemical weapons. the us military says strikes were conducted against three sites involved in the research, production and use of chemical weapons. the united states has a vital national interest in averting a worsening catastrophe in syria, and specifically deterring the use and proliferation of chemical weapons. syrian state television claims 13 missiles were shot down but